Month: April 2016

Giving a piece of gum to a friend at school will only always lead to the question, “Where did I go wrong?” Am I right? This makes me laugh, but read on.

How many times have you heard, “Where did I go wrong?” Or said it? It is a negative question. Even people who do not ascribe to karma think that something they did in the past is coming back to create havoc for them now. So, the question”Where did I go wrong?” lingers like glue.

A wrong turn, a wrong side-glance at a long-lost lover, a wrong decision or string of decisions that plummet the business into bankruptcy, or a rare moment of pure impulsivity with friends which lands us in jail are all times where we would ask ourselves where we went wrong. Is there wrongness or do we experience contrast?

If you grew up in church, then the word wrong would be equal to sin. I keep seeing that the word sin depending on the root definitions keeps showing up as “missing the mark.” Even if the intention is sent toward the target it still falls short. So, without belaboring the point, do we go wrong or do we fall short of our mark?

One observation to be made is that with any process there will be movement and ripple effects. There will be missing the mark, but to what degree? Will it be gross error or slight mishap? Will it be life altering? Will it make life better? Will it allow growth? On a purely physical note there will be “wrong” and there will be “not correct” answers, paths, “sides of the bed.” We all great and small “miss the mark.” We all experience not being correct. We all take a wrong turn or make a wrong decision or possibly do wrong that needs to be made right.

So, “Where did I go wrong?” could be turned into “What’s my next step?” “Where do I go from here?” Don’t get stuck in the past of “Where did I go wrong?” Look for the next step, the action that will serve others. Allow goodness and mercy to flow through you in all situations. Look back on life with only one question from “Where did I go wrong?” to “Where did I go?” And then stay in the present moment and keep setting your intention to hit the mark.

Life may not look like the picture in your mind. It may take on a whole different personality, but allow goodness to flow. In all things give thanks, and give that piece of gum to your friend, but not at school.

Check out all this article on Baking Soda! Some use it as toothpaste. Others add it to their relaxing bath with lavender drops and epsom salt. It is so easy to use and such a powerful tool yet easily accessible. Try it. Remember it next time you have a tummy ache or need a pinch of it in your coffee to reduce the acid. Give it a whirl on your toothbrush. It is a gem.

The article linked here is a great practical guide on the use of spices to improve our health. I love spices. Read, use and comment on your favorite spice or herb.

If I were to have to pick my favorite it would be turmeric without a doubt. I add it to brown rice every time I make it. I can’t seem to get enough of the flavor. The benefits are exponential too. Heart health support, anti-inflammation properties, and just a great taste are some of the reasons I use it.

Mint smells so good in the garden. Oregano on pizza and in soups does wonders. Cinnamon in coffee and tea is trendy but tasty, and chili peppers add flavor and a lot more to many dishes. Fresh garlic needs to be a staple and new cooks could ward off many illnesses by adding this ingredient. The garlic press will make its use second nature during meal prep.

Remember these inexpensive additions to the dishes add a lot of healthy benefits. Use them daily, weekly, or as often as possible. They will be…”The Spice of Life.”

The lake where I walk often is full of sailboats. I love them. I love this place. I decided today it was our city’s “playground.” All people come here to hang out with loved ones or alone to exercise and be outdoors. You will see a diverse group of people in size, nationality, and gender. There are bike paths, walking and jogging paths. These are clearly marked, although the markers are a bit high and the casual pedestrian pays no attention to them until a “newbie” gets barked at by the less patient bike enthusiast. There are skaters, inline and longboards. There are recumbent bikes. There are child sized trikes. There are whole families walking, jogging, biking, and fishing. Fishing was the sport for today since the wind was up to 13-14 mph, but the skies were completely clear and the sun was on blast.

A while back I remember I never thought I could belong in a yacht club. I still don’t know a whole lot about it, but having frequented the boat docks and the lake for many years, I now have a sense of belonging. Maybe it’s my age, but I find the thought of being a member is no longer a foreign object. It seems a next step to this journey of life.

There are particularly two rigs that I have seen for years and would want to purchase if ever they were up for sale. The first one is named the “Chili Pepper” and the second much bigger vessel is called “Barefoot.” When my sons were small they would say they were going “Barefootin'”, so it is with a mom’s heartstrings that I have an affinity for the large vessel. I love that “CP” has red paint stripes to match its name. I also have to admit to a great friend who had a lovely dog named Chilly. Again, the heartstrings move me.

I love that “BF” has a cool blue and green tint to its rigging that suggests a nice walk through the park in the cool spring grass with no shoes. I have walked barefoot along the fence row where BF is stored. I feel as if they both are kindred spirits. Even though they are on opposite sides of the lake, I visit them respectfully as if they are friends. That is what any decent patron of such a sacred space would do. I look forward to seeing they are still there, and I smile as I pass either on my bike or walking past in my five fingers or barefoot. They seem to always greet me with the howl of the cables vibrating in the wind. It is music to my ears.

On today’s visit I introduced my friend BF to the Walk Talk Time client who walked and talked for 5 miles with me. It was great to share the ships majestic music with my friend on such a beautiful sun filled day. As we walked past I thought I heard, “Later.” To which I responded, “Gator!”

The sky is falling…the sky is falling! April fools! What a great tradition it is to play tricks on our frands! Funny ones are good. Good ones are funny. Some years I look forward to the games on April fools day. And some days are normal. Today was normal. I like that. There was a cool breeze and clear sky. There was only a need for a light jacket. Warmth was in the sunshine and the breeze kept me cool. If only all our days could be like this April 1st. And, yet, I could not help but read about some of the all time best April fools pranks.

Some of the best”April Fools” spoofs included the advertisement for left-handed toilet paper in 2015, the redefining of pi in 1998 from 3.14159 to 3., and the story about Big Ben going digital in the 1980’s according to CNN’s “some of the greatest April Fool’s hoaxes ever.” Then there are the FB statuses that have us thinking twice. From random peeps being prego, to new cars being bought, to “I’m getting off FB and closing my account by the end of today.” To the celebrity tweeting your account, school being canceled, and friends announcing exciting moves they will be making oversees where these all cause one to pause and reflect, and ponder if the info is true. And we do it on purpose. I love that our society wants to give room to a chuckle and promote having a sense of humor. Humor comes from God and is spiritual in nature. It lifts our souls and promotes being playful. Babies love to play. Animals do too. Where do we lose it along the way? Keeping the playful spirit alive will breathe life into your relationships and keep you young at heart.

So for today there were no fools, there were no falling skies. Just beauty and blue skies and a cool breeze. No Chicken Little telling me the worst was yet to come. Everyday things happen. Obstacles arise to teach us and grow us. What we make of it is up to us. What we tell ourselves about the day shapes it. Are we grateful? Do we see the good? Do we recognize the help we are given? Can you feel the breeze and the warmth of the sunshine? Can you pause and be playful and return to an activity that one day made you, for a moment, chuckle? Is your sky falling? Repeat April 1st until it feels 2nd nature to help people smile! You know you want to!